J. Wayne Leonard has been chief executive of Entergy Corp. since 1999, three years before it bought the Vernon reactor from the group of New England utilities that had owned it before.

Relations between Vermont and Entergy have been rough in recent years, as the state sought and so far has failed to force Vermont Yankee to close down when its initial 40-year license expired last March.

In honor of Leonard's tenure, Entergy is creating a $5 million endowment that it says is to address issues of climate change, poverty and social justice.The head of the company that owns the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant is stepping down this week.

J. Wayne Leonard has been chief executive of Entergy Corp. since 1999, three years before it bought the Vernon reactor from the group of New England utilities that had owned it before.

Relations between Vermont and Entergy have been rough in recent years, as the state sought and so far has failed to force Vermont Yankee to close down when its initial 40-year license expired last March.

In honor of Leonard's tenure, Entergy is creating a $5 million endowment that it says is to address issues of climate change, poverty and social justice.